Dry Firing Guns, ok or not ok?

leeblackman

I've been seeing a few posts on dry firing guns lately. Whether or not its ok to or not. So I figure I'd just make a new post to give general comments.

First and foremost before I start dryfiring a gun, see how readily available replacement firing pins are. If its an old relic where I'd have to have a new one made by a gunsmith, costing more than the value of the gun itself, I'd pass. But if its a current production mainstream military quality firearm, I'd dry fire it all day.

Also, snap caps, and those little orange dummy bullets are all pretty cheap. And being the only person I know to break two firing pins in the same month from dry firing (a marlin 336, and a Rem. 597) you can believe that I've invested in them.

If I'm wrong please correct me, I won't be offended.

The sound of a 12 gauge pump clears a house fatser than Rosie O eats a Big Mac !

marinebadger

One of the best ways to smooth out a new Smith revolver
action is lots of dry fire. That and some good lube.

Laredo Lefty

Its been my experience that it depends on the individual gun. For example, the Ithaca mdl 37 shotgun will break firing pins in short order if dry fired. Rem shotguns will sometime break. I have a Rem Wingmaster that I have dry fired many times in the 30 yrs I have had it with no problems.
As for snap caps, I have used both the Armsport, red plastic, and the A-Zoom, aluminum. The A-Zoom are much better as they dont crack after extended use like the Armsport do.
Most revolvers can be dry fired without breaking pins.

cpermd

A very good rule for general use.
Do NOT DRYfire a 22 RF
A CF with a floating firing pin is almost always OK.
cpermd

Xracer

General rule of thumb.....when in doubt, DON'T!

Snap caps are cheap.....get some.

captkirk3@dslextreme.com

Gentlemen; General Comments belong in the General Discussion Forums..
Ask the Experts is for SPECIFIC Questions and for recieving SPECIFIC Comments and Answers about SPECIFIC Firearms and related Items and Subjects, I'll let it run its course of 10 answers, but lets keep it in mind in the future that we have a set of rules to play by...Best....

Captain Kirk, Tech Staff

lead lobber

I have heard that one should dry fire to unload the fireing pin spring- is this ever true

Tailgunner1954

With the "V" type springs you should relieve the tension on them.
With the coil springs relieving the tension is not nessasary.

---

Some guys like a mag full of lead, I still prefer one round to the head.

leeblackman

Thanks Captain, sorry, sometimes I forget which forum I'm posting in.

If I'm wrong please correct me, I won't be offended.

The sound of a 12 gauge pump clears a house fatser than Rosie O eats a Big Mac !

gskyhawk

leeblackman: man i thought it was a specific question about dry firing, I guess from now on we will have to start listing the exact make model and ser number before we ask a question,, but then again there really aren't any factory experts here any ways are there? if there are then maybe they should be listed so we can ask the question direct to them instead of just from who ever wants to answer , just my 2cents worth

rhmc24

My two dry fire rules: Never dry fire someone else's gun. Never dry fire any gun without a reason. There are valid reasons that others have given such as check of function such as index, trigger pull, etc.; smooth a rough action; relieve spring tension during storage, etc. Be aware that with a captive firing pin as in S&W .22 revolvers (and others), the firing pin travel is intended to stop against the head of the cartridge or primer. Without that, the firing pin strikes something else. Damage, if it occurs, may be something other than the firing pin itself, against where the firing pins stops. Having said that, most guns will stand quite a lot of dry firing before damage occurs.